A diamond tool is a which contains diamond segments bonded to a base material, for cutting through a wide variety of non-ferrous materials. The segments are composed of diamond crystals and diamond powder metal which form the bond, or 'matrix', of the segments.

Diamonds should not be used for cutting steel or iron, as carbon will dissolve into the workpiece and lead to tool wear and work hardening. Three other materials are used for cutting steels where diamond would be used: Cubic boron nitride(CBN, the second hardest material known), aluminum oxide, and silicon nitride tooling may be used.

Generally speaking, diamond-edged tools are commonly used for cutting a wide variety of very hard construction materials, including reinforced and cured concrete, all types of brick and cinder blocks, dense metals,rebar,asphalt,granite,marble, travertine porcelain, and many other types of materials which cannot be cut with ordinary cutting tools.